Ekimae Koto Onsen, Beppu: A Public Bathhouse With Overnight Lodging

What Is Ekimae Koto Onsen?

When walking along the streets in front of Beppu Station's East Exit, the baths that make this city in Oita prefecture famous are just a five minute stroll away. Here you'll find a curiously Western style building that is sure to catch your eye. This is Ekimae Koto Onsen, a town hot spring managed by the locals.

This small hot spring has cheap overnight lodgings in addition to being a public bath - a rare type of facility in Beppu. Plus its location in front of the station means that it is both easy to access from the ocean, the mountains, and even from the downtown, and can act as the ideal sightseeing hub for the region.  The fact that the building being used is the same as it was 90 years ago is another highlight of Ekimae Koto Onsen.

A Public Bath with Hot & Warm Waters

You will immediately arrive at the reception desk when you open the door to Ekimae Koto Onsen. Entry is based on a prepayment system where a ticket is purchased from the ticket machine at the side of the door and then given to the receptionist. Bathing is available from 6:00 – 24:00.

There are two types of baths at this hot spring: one with hot water called Atsuyu and one at a normal temperature called Nuruyu. Each respective bath has an extra fee.

By the way, Atsuyu is at a temperature that feels quite hot even for Japanese people, so we suggest those that have few experiences with bathing in Japanese public baths to choose Nuruyu instead.

To enter the baths, both Atsuyu and Nuruyu are 200 yen plus tax for adults and 100 yen for children. The four yellow buttons at the top of the ticket machine are the bathing fees with the very top row of buttons being for Atsuyu while the bottom row is for Nuruyu.

Rental bath towels or single-use shampoos and soaps can be purchased at this ticket machine too if you didn’t bring your essentials for entering the baths. Prices are as written below. All prices include tax.

[Rental]
Bath towel… 50 yen
Hairdryer… 10 yen

[Purchase]
Shampoo… 40 yen
Conditioner… 40 yen
Razor… 70 yen
Razor (Women’s)… 40 yen
Soap… 20 yen
Toothbrush… 40 yen
Face towel… 150 yen
An original Ekimae Koto Onsen towel… 300 yen